Gujarat massacre convict freed months before election: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Mar 8: Reacting sharply on bail granted to Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, who was convicted in the 2002 Naroda Patiya massacre case in Gujarat, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said ‘the move is intentional to send out a message to target Muslims and other minorities’.

Expressing surprise over the Supreme Court’s decision, Ms Mehbooba said a man who bragged about ripping out a foetus from a pregnant Muslim woman during Gujarat riots has been set free.

“Is this their idea of naya India,” Ms Mehbooba, who is the President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked. “A man who bragged about ripping out a foetus from a pregnant Muslim woman during Gujarat riots has been set free. His release months before elections seems intentional. The message is loud & clear. Vilify & target Muslims & other minorities. Is this their idea of naya India?” Ms Mehbooba wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

The apex court granted conditional bail to Bajrangi on medical grounds. He was convicted and was awarded life imprisonment for his role in the case relating to the Naroda Patiya massacre by a trial court and the judgment was subsequently upheld by the Gujarat High Court as well. (UNI)